COMPARISON OF VISUAL INTERPRETATIONS AND OPTICAL-DENSITY MEASUREMENTSOF 2 ANTIGEN TESTS FOR HEARTWORM INFECTIONS IN DOGS

Sera from 61 dogs were tested for Dirofilaria immitis antigens by two antigen tests using visual interpretations and a microwell optical den sity (OD) reader. Dogs were necropsied to determine if they were infec ted and to recover all worms. Investigation of test kit OD readings re vealed major sources of variability existed in setting up the two test s. This report presents our findings and compares the subjective visua l interpretations with the objective optical density values for D. imm itis antigens in dogs by the two tests including an assessment of the dependability of these tests in predicting worm burdens of infected do gs.